Since the election, I have been speaking to smart and ambitious students across the country about their career plans. Many dreamed of national security jobs but now, on the verge of graduation, they face the daunting prospect of serving in an administration that holds values they don't share. As they question whether to pursue other options, I have encouraged them to answer the call to government service.

It’s not an easy decision, as I know from personal experience. Our country suffered the trauma of 9/11 between when I first applied to the U.S. foreign service and when I was accepted in early 2002. This challenging time compelled many to join the military and civilian agencies. Others, myself included, felt uncomfortable with elements of our government’s response and struggled with the idea of promoting its policies abroad. While numerous factors influenced my choice, I opted to remain in academia rather than become a diplomat.

Yet several years later I decided to work for a non-profit organization in Iraq, dealing with the consequences of a policy I had opposed. I subscribed to what became known as the Pottery Barn rule: while I hadn't supported the breaking, I felt obligated to help with the fixing. I cared deeply about good governance and the mission of an organization that, with the help of money from the U.S. government, was seeking to improve Iraqi lives.

Amid almost daily mortar attacks on the Green Zone in Baghdad, and the death of a colleague whose convoy was attacked, we sought to strengthen the democratic development of a broken country.That experience taught me there is vital foreign policy work to be done in every administration, even if you don’t agree with the overarching objectives.

Five years later I joined the Obama Administration as a political appointee, grateful for the opportunity to serve in the State Department after having passed on the earlier career option. Serving was made easier by the fact that I felt I could proudly carry out this president’s foreign policy vision.

And then came Syria, a war that America did not make, but that mattered to our country and tested our values. This tragic conflict consumed my time in government. I disagreed with aspects of our policy and fought hard internally for a more pro-active approach that would help the Syrian people and stop the violence from spiraling into a regional catastrophe. Despite losing arguments, I still faced the challenging task of publicly explaining and defending those decisions.

As I learned, it is impossible to know how decision-making will unfold on every issue or what choices your preferred candidate will make once in office. Everyone serving in government, career or political, will at some point disagree with the handling of issues in her portfolio. That is simply the nature of crafting policy in a bureaucracy. The extent of disagreement will vary, as will the calculus of how best to respond.

It’s also worth remembering we live in a big world, with plenty of countries and issues beyond the politicized Washington spotlight that need American engagement. For example, many aspects of Africa policy have bipartisan support and President George W. Bush was widely praised for his HIV/AIDS work there.

To be sure, now is not the most inspiring time to join government. There are deep proposed budget cuts, fewer job openings and unwarranted attacks on career officials as the "swamp" and "deep state." Some argue President Trump’s approach makes government a particularly difficult career choice, as he has disparaged professional service and espoused troubling and erratic foreign policy views outside mainstream positions. Yet if we believe in the enduring importance of our democratic institutions, we need to make sure they aren’t under-staffed in the future because a generation is averse to joining their ranks now.

Furthermore, it would be shortsighted to rule out a rewarding career in government based on the politics of one administration. Career officials in the State Department, Defense Department, Agency for International Development and intelligence community have vast experience, long memories and wise counsel. They have served across administrations, Republican and Democratic. They are professionals and patriots. They are what young Americans interested in public service should strive to become.

Everyone has to make his or her own decision. Some people won't serve. Some may join but later resign in protest. Others will decide they are more effective critiquing externally than advocating internally.

But I would argue that our nation needs the energy, optimism, and expertise of our graduates more than ever. By joining government now, they can serve our country and its values, exert influence on the hundreds of small yet important decisions made daily, and with that experience make an even greater difference when they hold senior positions in the future amid new political realities at home and abroad.

Amanda Sloat, a fellow in the Ash Center at Harvard Kennedy School, served for five years in the Obama administration at the State Department and National Security Council. Follow her on Twitter: @A_Sloat